Apparatus for conditioning air



Aug. 27, 1929.

F. B. COMINS 1,726,214

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING AIR Filed Aug. '7, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l s *1 Ewnl 3 Cam in:

Aug. 27, 1929. F B, MINS 1,726,214

APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING AI R Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

UNITED'QSITATES I 1,126,214 PATENT OFFICE;

i FRANK B. OO'MINS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ABSIGNOB TO AMERICAN MOISTEN- I ING COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

arrmn'rus roa connrrxonfim AIR.

Application filed August 7, 1923. Serial No. 056,248.

between rows of machines, without blowing it sidewise or directly over such machines, which is not feasible because the moisture would there be in'urious. Such are some-. times known as ouble outlet or alley type humidifiers; and so far as I am aware such machines have never before been made to distribute their output other than lengthwise of the alley, nor have they been made to handle air, independently of moisture, while the distribution of moisture is in operation.

It is an object of the present invention'to provide for the more perfect conditioning of the air of such a room by the throwing of humidified air in specific directions, as for example in two opposite directions along the alley between t e machinery, and to throw air of the room in other specific directions, as for example in opposite directions crosswise of the alley, thus throwing unhumidified air out over themachines, and by this indirect means inducing the circulation and general diffusion of humidity safely through the room, and getting it without danger to the machinery, into locations where it can have its desired effect on the stock that is being worked in the machinery. It is also the object to provide the" other advantages which are characteristic of the invention disclosed, among which are the grovision of means for circulating air in all irections, or at least in all of those specific directions for -which the apparatus is adapted, even though no humidity is added to the air by the apparatus, and also to accomplish this by a single constantly runningfan. a

To this end the invention provides apparatus which is adapted to receive a supply of liquid water and by mechanical means arranged in the lower part of the apparatus More parto raise and atomize it, while a downward current of a1r generated in the upper part of the apparatus-is divided, deflected and proecte from the center in several specific d1rect1on s or zones some branches carrying the atomized 11 uid and others not. In the specificform o apparatus illustrated there 1s provided a casing built around a vertical axls, havmg a fan, preferably at the open top of the casing, for drivin air downward, and guide walls that divi e and direct it horizontally, in separate currents. One of these air currents is merely unmoistened air of the room, and another current consists of air which ac uires entrainedcmoisture as it passes throng the apparatus. The division of the a1r 1nto these two services is effected w thm the apgaratus, so that the single electrlc motor an tive to project the air in radial streams wh1ch do or do not carry moisture, accordlng to their individual arrangements, and WhlCh may m an event not be humidified by the shuttmg o of the water su ply while the fan continues to propel sai currents of air.

The drawings illustrate two forms of apparatus in which the invention may be embod1ed, and it will be understood that other variations may be made. It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable express1on in the appended claims, whatever features of patenta 1e novelty exist in'the invention disclosed.

In the accompanyin drawings:

Flgure 1 is a plan 0 apparatus embodymg the present invention, in section on line 1--1 of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is an elevation, partly in medial sectlon, showing an annular partition with a central opening, for dividing the air currents;

fan which drive it are effec- Figure 3 is an elevation of a portion of the appalratus, in section on line 3-3 of Figure Figure lis a plan in section on line 44 of F1gure 5, showing a modification;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the same, partly in section; and

Figure 6 is an elevation in section on line 66 of Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings, a pan 10 is provided to which water may be fed by any suitable means as by a vertical pipe 11 whose enlarged top end 12 constitutes a central ,18, higher up on which is an electric motor 2Q which drives it and thereby also drives a rotary fan 22, as also a supplementary fan 23, if desired, bot-h being arranged to propel air downward starting parallel to the direction of the axis. The apparatus will first be described herein on the assumption that this supplementary fan is omitted. Between the fan 22 and the disk is an annular partition 24 in whose central hole 25 and preferably just below it is the supplementary fan 23, if present. The partition 24 in a general way may be said to extend horizontally from the central hole 25 outward, although in practical construction it will ordinarily slope downward somewhat.- And above this is an annular casing 26 in whose central hole 27 is the said fan 22, it being held at any desired height therein by the set screw 22'. The casing is placed above the partition 24 far enough to provide for the lateral currents of unhumidified air. The annular partition 24 is placed above the disk far enough to provide for those currents of air which are to bear the fo from the edge of the disk in predetermine directions, as for example, 1n opposite directions along an alley between machinery. Such air is driven by either or both fans downward through the central hole 25 of the partition, and then is deflected by the upper face of the said disk 15, which preferably is suitably curved for that purpose. This air is laterally confined so that its discharge is in limited radial zones and so that its escape in other than desired directions is prevented by vertical side walls 28.

Assumin fan 23 omitted, the arrangement of the disk, spatter blades and partition above, and the fan 22, may be according to any suitable arrangements for providing the generation and distribution of fog. It may be desired to prevent the partition having any function or character as a shield for preventing blasts of air striking the fog at the moment of its generation at the spatter plates, so that this part of the apparatus may function fully. To prevent such shielding care should be taken to see that the partition 24 is high enough above the disk and the spat-ter plates, and that the hole 25 is large enough, so that the full volume of air which is needed and is normal for carrying the fog can pass the partition centrally, and flow freely out between it and the disk. The additional out ut of the fan, which is to be dissouth, while the alley runs projected under the partition 24 as some is in the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1, 2

and 3, wherein the upper current is pro jected. in all directions horizontally, it issues where it would not touch the spatter plates even if the horizontal'partition' 24 were absent, bein too remote therefrom and sepa- 'rated by t e intervening body of air in the current of air which is rushing past the spatter plates and picking up the fog there generated.

Tn an alternative form sections of the partition 24 may be omitted, on those sides of the axis in which the air is to be projected in humidified form, as in Figures 4-6. In this case the to casing maybe set at the proper height a ove the spatter plates for the full current of air needed for the fog to pass there, with free and immediate access for the fog to all parts of said current.

In either of these cases the fog which is generated on those sides of the axis in which the humidity-is to be projected is picked up by the passing current of air and carried in the desired direction up and down the alley between machinery. In those directions from the axis in which the air is not to be projected humidified, e. g. toward the sides of the alley, the series of spatter plates at the peripher may be continued or discontinued. If which is thrown centrifugally from the edge of the rotating disk will merely strike the pan and flow back to the central well. the other hand if the spatter plates are continued past such a. section, the mist therein formed will float along in the air within the a paratus in the general direction of rotatlon of the disk until it comes to one of the openings from which humidified air is to be projected, and there it will be taken up by the current of flowing air. The speed in both cases will be enhanced by the frictional propulsion or drag of the plate upon the air which is within the apparatus and is next FtO the rotating disk. Meanwhile the air which is propelled downward by the fan 22 above on these sides of the axis where the pan has vertical peripheral walls 28, flows at ahigher level between the said partition 24 and the said casing 26, and is deflected into horizontal direction by the said partition and is projected from the open lips iscontinued the film of water later ally with'respect to the alley and out over themachinery.

f Under these circumstances units of .the

rovide and maintain a desired condition of umid ityenerall throughout the room. The projection of t e moist currents of air u and down the alle s prevents their impinging directly upon t e machincry, or upon ob ects which may be above the .machinery, whi e the lateral currents of air cause a continuous movement and circulation of the air which is over the machinery and over the stock which is to be maintained of proper humidity, and thus cause, by indirect means, a slow and suitable distribution through the room of that air which is initially pro'ected only along the alleys.

Upon t e shutting off of water any time the fan or fans may continue in operation driving air alone in all directions.

The function of the lower fan, 23,'may be understood by considering that if the central hole 25 be too small, not enough air may pass through it from the fan, and more of its blast will be diverted for projecting the currents of unhumidified air. In such cases there may even be a sli ht up-draft throu h the hole 25 to'supply the fan 22. In or er toprevent this in cases where so large a roportion of air is to be used for dr distribution the fan 23 may be added as illustrated, bein set within the hole 25 and just below it and being of such size and sary to supp-1y an adequate last for carrying away the fo which is generated. It will be observed t at the blast from this fan has full access to the spatter lates and therefore readily picks up all 0 the fog which is there generated. However, if the central hole 25 be large enough, a sufficiency of air from the fan 22 will go down it and the fan 23 may be omitted.

For clearness in the drawings, the tiebolts or connections which support the pan 10 in fixed relation to the top casing 26 and i hold the partition 24 in place are not shown,

but it is to be understood that such means well known in the art may be provided.

I claim as my invention:

1, Apparatus for conditioning air in a room, comprising a rotating shaft with rotor adapted to throw water centrifugally, a fan, and spatter lates arranged around the periphery of the rotor for generatin a fo combined with guides for the air from the fan, said uides being arranged below the fan and dlviding the path of air therefrom into two courses, one of which extends past said spatter plates with outlet through only a fractional part of the circumference of the apparatus, for distributin humidified air in a particular horizontal direction, and the described apparatus set at intervals about a room will power as is necesother of which courses avoids said spatter plates for distributing only unhumldifi ed air in a different horizontal direction.

2. Apparatus for conditioning air in a room, comprising elements arranged about a vertical axis, including a rotating vertical shaft with rotor adapted to throw water centrifugally, a fan, and spatter plates arranged around the periphery of the rotor for generating a fog; combined with a guidmg partition positioned on one side "of the apparatus below the fan arranged to keep a part of the air current away from the spatter plates and ,to guide it outward, t ereby to distribute it unhumidified; and there being a discontinuance of said partition, on another side of the apparatus where another. part of the air current has ree access to the spatter lates, and thereby is humidified and .disc arged thus into the room.

3.,Apparatus for conditioning air in a room, comprising elements arranged about a vertical axis, including a rotating vertical shaft with rotor adapted to throw water centrifugally, a. fan, and spatter plates arranged around the peripher of the rotor' for generating a fog; combine with a wall circumscribing said plates at a little distance and having openmgs'for discharge of humid ified air; whereby air bearing tog at places where there is no such 0 ening is forced and guided circularly outsi e of said plates to the discharge opening which is next reached in the direction of flow.

4. Apparatus for conditioning air in a room, comprising elements arranged about a-vertical a-xis, includin a rotating vertical shaft with rotor ada te to throw water centrifugally, a fan, an spatter plates arranged around the peripher of the rotor for generatm a fo com ined with guides ar range to de fan to said spatter plates with outlets through limited zones on opposite sides of the apparatus, and a partition set across a part of the delivery zone of ,the fan above the spatter lates and extending to a distance beyon the said plates, whereby a portlon of the air from the fan is made to avoid said spatter lates and is discharged unhumidified ad acent to the discharge of humidified air.

5. Apparatus for conditioning air in a room, comprising the combination, with means for generating a fog, of guides arranged to define two air courses, one of which leads past said fog-generating means and has a limited horizontal breadth of discharge, and the other of which avoids the zone of fog-generation anddischarges in a different dlrection of the horizon from that e a course for air from the room, comprising the combination, with air blowing and fog generating means, of guide walls defining two courses for the air thus blown, one of which leads to' the zone of fog-generation, for humidifying its portion 5 of air, and thence to a discharge mouth having a limited horizontal breadth of dis charge, and the other of which courses avoids said zone of fog-generation and leads direct to a discharge mouth trom the apparatus for delivering unhumidified air in a' difl'erent horizontal direction from the :hori: zontal direction of discharge of the first mentioned portion of air.

7. Apparatus for conditioning air in a room, comprising means 'in the apparatus fol-generating air currents; means arranged to define an air course with discharge through limited portions of the complete 'horizontal zone in different horizontal directions from sa1d apparatus;*means fol gen eratlng a fog in said air course, whereby alr therein'entrams fog; means arranged to define another air course through 'which a portion of the air from said air current generating means is guided to avoid said fog FRANK B. ooMINs 

